Somebody's Lover: The Jackson Brothers, Book 1

he heard it.
    I am so glad it was you, Jace. Nobody else. Just you.
    Isn’t that what her words meant? Only you. Just you. Nobody else. Shit. He didn’t know what she meant. Could have been nothing more than she was glad she picked someone who knew his way around a woman’s body.
    Shit.
    He eased off slightly, holding himself on his elbows to let her breathe. Why was he ruining what they’d done together?
    “You okay down there?”
    Her eyes still closed, she smiled. “I’m more than okay. What time is it?”
    He pulled out and rolled off.
    “Hey.”
    “Sorry, my arms were breaking.” Something was breaking, and it wasn’t his arms. He angled his watch to the light. “It’s a little past nine-thirty.”
    “I was late getting here. I’m sorry.”
    He turned to peel off the damn condom. What was he supposed to do with it except litter? He tossed it in the lake with a plop.
    Was it good for you, Taylor? Jesus. That was a female line. He’d knew it had been good for her. But was it good enough?
    “You’re mad.”
    He pulled up his pants, wishing he’d taken them all the way off to feel her skin against every inch, and flopped back down beside her. “How could I be mad, Taylor? That was the best.”
    She was gorgeous in the moonlight. A slight breeze caressing her hair, her skin all dewy and sweet, her dress rumpled around her sides and thighs, her body bare and beautiful.
    “It was the best,” she agreed.
    Can we do it again? Soon?
    Christ, if he said it, he’d sound like an adolescent.
    “You better go.” Before he begged. “You don’t want to be late picking up the boys.”
    She rose to her knees, straightening her dress, buttoning up. Then she stood, looked at him. “Thank you, Jace.”
    Rising to her, he closed his eyes, waiting, aching. Say it won’t be the last time. Please.
    But she didn’t utter a word.
    He opened his eyes to find her backing away. He wanted her to stay just a little longer. But ten o’clock was closing in fast. If she left now, she’d make it back to his parents’ with five minutes to spare. Maybe. She turned at the side of her van, lingered a moment, then climbed in. Leaning over, she checked her makeup and hair in the rearview mirror. Fixing herself, wiping away the traces of his lovemaking.
    Then she closed the door, the dome light went off, and he couldn’t see her anymore as she backed out and turned the minivan around.
    His heart ached as her taillights disappeared at the bend in the road.

Chapter Seven

    Taylor had left Jace standing on the blanket with the moonlight through the trees flickering over his hard face. Shirtless, his pants over his hips but undone.
    She’d wanted so badly to go back, to beg for one more time. How could she give up something as wonderful as what they’d done?
    But she had to. She couldn’t fall in love with him. What they’d shared tonight was as much as she could ask for. One glorious week.
    She pulled off to the side of the road in a dark spot, snapped on her bra, then rolled on her panties. She couldn’t pick up Brian and Jamey naked underneath the dress.
    Her body was more than satisfied. Yet something didn’t feel right. Something was missing. Something terribly important. Maybe if she’d had fifteen minutes more to lie in his arms. Afterglow. Instead, this felt like aftermath.
    The lights at the Jackson house were blazing when she pulled into the driveway. Evelyn would have let the kids stay up since it was Friday, no school tomorrow and because Taylor wasn’t going to be late. She checked her lipstick once more and smoothed her hair. She found a blade of grass and pulled it out.
    Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply and smelled Jace’s clean scent all over again. He said she drove him nuts. Well, he drove her crazy. She’d done things no mother of two growing boys should do with her brother-in-law. And she could never ask for it again.
    The kids were bouncing off the walls when she walked in. Evelyn had been feeding them sodas and cookies again.
    Taylor smiled brightly. “Hey, guys, were you good for Nana and Grandpa?”
    “Like little lambs.” Evelyn beamed.
    “Yeah, right,” Taylor scoffed. Her little hooligans? “Time to go, get your things.” Which meant bags of toys, video games, a couple of battle tanks. Arthur bent on one knee helping.
    “How did it go?” Evelyn asked as they watched the kids pick up their stuff.
    “Fine. Like I said, it was a checkup. He’s doing fine.” Was she supposed